newby - reliability

[smity]

hey,

my names chris and im new to rx7\'s and was after some information. Ive had some sports cars before, mx5, evo 4 and just sold my S1 rs turbo and im now in the market for an rx7 now here are a few questions that i would be very greatfull if someone could help answer them.

Firstly:- Ill be using it as an every day car i only travel 5 miles a day too and from work anything else is normally weekend driving for pleasure so what are these things like on reliability because i dont want to be worryed everytime i come to my car if its going start or not (had all them problems with my rs) and can they be used as an every day car.

Second:- how expensive are the parts and how easy to get hold of, and what normally breaks.

Finally:- The engine, now ive heard alot about these over the years and how most if not all need to be rebuilt at some point. And i remember hearing something about the seals on the points needing to be replaced and if they were replaced with uprated seals they would last forever......so i surpose my question is, is that true if so what seals. Also just some info on what to look for with the enigne when purchasing as i dont want to buy a car that blows up after week.

sorry ive waffled on

thanks :Thumbs-up

[leon]

Hi smitty, you came to the right place to ask about this beast of a car! :yes

There is a section on the site regarding purchasing of an rx7 that should cover a lot of the simple checks and what to look for in them.

I currently use my Rx7 as a daily driver (as do a few others on here) but admitadly it has let me down once, but i can not fault the car i only have my self to blame for not fixing the problem before it became critical! (water pump gasket) MPG is around 20 mpg if your a good boy , less if you give it a bit of go juice or sit in start stop trafic.

As for parts, ive not had a problem! there are a host of companys that deal specialy with this car be in tuneing or parts (look above the post for a few of) and as for price, they aint too bad as with most cars somethings are more expensive than others.

Ahhh yes the dreaded engine... The Apex seals on the engine are what most people cry about, Sadly when they do go in a way that requires the engine to be taken out, logisticaly speaking once its out its worth changing all the apex seals (6 usualy, unless 20b) rather than just one! but the benefit of that is you know you have a ROCK solid engine thereafter! but its not all gloom and doom! Another thing you may have heard of is the waterseals going. the main thing to look out for these is that they have a strong engine. good compression and near equal readings! on front and rear rotor.

[DC-TYPER]

I use mine as a daily car, look after it and it will look after you, forget the horror stories. its a car mate.  i have nt even blown a bulb in the 2 years of happy motoring.. buy one and enjoy it, the only thing that should bother you is the shares in bp you will need to buy...lol

[smity]

Thanks for the replies!

its hard to forget the horror stories because its not cheap to have an engine rebuilt and i dont want to buy aload of trouble because i dont have a huge amount of money seem to have the nack of finding them sort, so how long do they tend to last after a rebuild?

[DC-TYPER]

the more you modify, the shorter the life, i cant really answer that one cus it aint happend to me

[robedwards99]

I think the general thought on life span of a well maintained engine is about 60k.

As soon as you start going for more power this figure will almost certainly drop.

[SavageUK]

just to add my few cents, i dont do much more mileage per day on average than you. me an my rx7 have had our ups and downs, and although there are always bits which "need" doing (which tbh they dont, you can never just stop modding these things ) shes never let me down.

not cheap by a long shot, but well worth every penny.

[leon]

although to be honest most of the stuff bar engine internals (unless you feel realy brave!) can be done by yourself if your handy with a spanner and have a lot of time and patience.:Thumbs-up

[smity]

i am quite handy with a spanner and normally give the job a go first my self, ive done engine transplant ect but as for time there isnt enought hours in the day!

i think i just need to get together a check list of things to look at when i go and view the rx7\'s.

also could somone tell me the different types because i keep seeing the fr dr ect and dont know what they are

i think ill be looking for a car thats had a recent build at a reputable place.

thanks all

[Frankie]

This image says it all :Giggle

[Jono FD3]

Short ansers to your questions:

Work: Walk as you will murder a rex doing that short a jurney every day!!!

Parts aren\'t too bad to be honest & not particularly hard to get hold of.

Reliability..... unfortunatly it\'s not if, but when on the rebuild front, but it\'s like any other car, look after it & it will look after you!!

[Grizzly]

I am sure you have figured it out by now if you are seriously looking for an FD aim to get one thats had a recent engine (with PROOF!!) usaly its the Twin turbo vac assembly that gives agro but once you have an idea of what your looking at they are not too bad, the most simple and effective way of getting an "reliable FD" is to get a Single turbo thats had a rebuild recently running in the low 300\'s

Personaly i would say the worst thing about FD\'s is the Fuel!!! i know insurance kan be a killer if you are young and its a Jap spec car (UK cars are cheaper to insure but rare ) and doing short Trips will kill Plugs like there going out of Fashion. BUT all said I would not swap my Fd for any of the Evo\'s or skylines etc out there, they just have some thing about them.

The other thing that you get addicted too if you do buy and FD is Trackdays, if you are short of Cash etc etc don\'t do one because it will take over your Life, i mean the Fd gives you a Buzz when you drive it (big Grin factor) but add a track day into it and next thing you know you will be on your way to the Ring!!! spending all your Holladay money and searching the net for the best Brake pads

All said, the Pro\'s are the best looking and handling car in its class, the Con\'s are you really have to read up when buying one (can get a ****ed of bank manager wanting blood very easy) and there are alot of Tired examples out there that have had hard lifes so find some one localy that are in the MRC and ask nicely if they would drive it for you (just remember this, a Bad FD drives like a normal every day car a good FD will put a grin on your face every time you drive it)

[captainlovepony]

I\'ll be honest with you the car can be very costly too run and you need to look after it well,service at regular times etc.My car is is only used at weekends because its a real fuel drinker,and if you have a family ,forget it mate you\'ll need a well paid job to keep it running ,unless your very lucky to find a real mint car there are many bad ones so look hard.Dont be ruled by your heart.

[Martiny]

Work: Walk as you will murder a rex doing that short a jurney every day!!!

This is not true, can we hear the technical reasons behind this statement, please?

[Martiny]

Work: Walk as you will murder a rex doing that short a jurney every day!!!

I dont agree, can we hear the technical reasons behind this statement, please?